The annual Black Hat Middle East and Africa summit, the world’s fastest-growing cybersecurity event and considered the global stage for Cybersecurity, has propelled Riyadh into a world leader within the industry, securing a spot alongside the more established Black Hat shows in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Singapore.
The Saudi capital’s global emergence on the cybersecurity landscape comes as Black Hat MEA 2024 shapes up for its biggest edition yet from November 26-28 at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre in Malham.
With an expanded content programme and Activity Zone, with four new activities to challenge cybersecurity professionals, the 2024 event’s 53,000 square-metre floorspace will set a global record as the largest cybersecurity expo by space. The third iteration of the annual conference will be set across 8,000 sqm more than its nearest competitor and represents 51% growth on the floorspace of Black Hat MEA 2023.
Such growth has been propelled by an influx of first-time exhibitors, including Axonius, Zscaler and Threatlocker, the launch of new activities and streams, and an expanded knowledge-sharing programme.
“Black Hat MEA 2024 will cement Riyadh’s status as a critical global player in the cybersecurity landscape, with an unprecedented lineup of global influencers, expert trainers, ethical hackers, and decision-makers from some of the world’s most security-conscious organisations,” said Annabelle Mander, Senior Vice President of Tahaluf, which organises the event in partnership with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP). “The event’s rapid growth highlights Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead in cybersecurity innovation as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”
With the show already sold out, confirmed exhibitors account for more than 450 brands – of which 240 are making their first appearance at Black Hat MEA. These brands represent a 28% uptick in international and local representation, while there will also be 40 startups, representing a 135% rise on 2023. More than 130 countries will be represented, with six national pavilions from the USA, Canada, India, Türkiye, Egypt and Pakistan, stimulating a global exchange of cybersecurity innovation.
